In the past several years, and even decades, the question of how important music is to a child’s education has come up time and time again. Despite the fact that music is such a major part of the lives of many individuals, people are still uncertain as to how they feel; yet quite a few good reasons exist for music to remain in schools.

Classical music has a reputation not only for being erudite and enriching, but also for having a calming effect on both the body and soul of those who listen to it. Many health benefits have been connected with the practice of listening to classical music; here are ten reasons why you might want to make it a part of your daily routine.

Born Heitor Villa-Lobos in 1887 in Rio de Janeiro, he began life during a period of upheaval in Brazil. With the abolishing of slavery in 1888 and the Empire of Brazil in 1889, the musical landscape in which Villa-Lobos was raised transitioned from a heavy European influence to that of the local styling. Over his first few years, his musical interest was sparked by the weekly musical gatherings his father would host at their house, eventually leading him to master the cello, clarinet and guitar.

Lots of people who are new to the world of antique collection have made the mistake of purchasing an old piano without inspecting it carefully first, thereby letting its sometimes nasty odour slip right under their noses (pun intended). Cigarette smoke, rodent and bug infestations, and mold growth can all have a role in this foul smell. The pianos with mold in them will have a distinct musty smell which you should deal with promptly, because mold can travel through the rest of the house if not intercepted in time, and can be quite costly to fix if allowed to spread. Fortunately, you can do this in your home quite easily.

What causes it?

Pianos that are stored in dirty garages or damp basements – ideal places for mold and bugs to do their work – are most prone to developing an unpleasant smell over the years. This is especially true if the basement the piano was stored in got water damage due to a flood, tornado or hurricane. The CDC has warned that these pianos, along with other household furniture, could be harmful for the health of inhabitants if not properly treated.

What you’ll require:

Here is a handy checklist of all the things you’ll need to clean up your musty, smelly piano. Luckily, all the things on the list are fairly common household items:

Water

Vinegar

Soft cloth

Gloves

Face mask

Household bleach

Baking soda

Furniture polish

Murphy’s Oil

What to do:

Begin by cleaning up the exterior of the piano. A soft cloth dipped in furniture polish should be used to wipe down wooden pianos. When you are cleaning up the exterior of pianos that aren’t wooden, employ a feather duster to gently dust them. A slightly damp piece of cloth can be used as well. The piano keys should be cleaned with a damp cloth. The ones which are especially dirty can be dealt with using a tiny amount of whitening toothpaste that is wiped on them using a slightly wet cloth.

Strong odours like cigarette smoke can be removed from the pianos exterior by wiping it down with a mild cleaning product e.g. Murphy’s Oil.

Vinegar solution should be used to clean the piano’s inside. Milder smells can be removed by mixing 2 cups vinegar with 2 cups water. With a soft cloth dipped in this vinegar solution, thoroughly wipe down the piano’s interior and leave it to air dry.

Now comes the more tricky part – be sure to put on the gloves and face mask before proceeding. A stronger cleaning solution e.g. a solution of bleach may be required for pianos infested with rodents or bugs, or mold spores / mildew stains. In a room with plenty of ventilation, mix 3 cups of water and 1 of household bleach. Use this solution with a soft cloth to wipe down on the rodent/bug excrement, or mildew / mold

If the smell lingers on, put an open baking soda box inside the piano and replace it every three months